Social networks and the pre-election campaigns of political parties

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Social networks are an important part of the election campaign, particularly in the U.S. presidential elections. We've been watching this year's campaigns of a number of political parties in local elections in Bosnia. We note their presence on Twitter, Facebook, or their approach to targeted voters.

The Political party “Socijaldemokratska partija BiH” (SDP) on its twitter account in September 11th shared an article published on the website Depo.ba. At the pre-election rally of SDP BiH Novo Sarajevo, the candidates for Municipal council were presented, as well as Dzelaludin Muharemovic, candidate for mayor of Novo Sarajevo.

In his presentation, Muharemović said, if he would be the mayor, he would restore the status of local communities in the municipality, and for the young people, he would primarily "return" Youth Center in Grbavica and adapt a children's home "Bosko Buha”, and create a safe playgrounds.

In August 16th, SDP had 220 followers, 971 tweets, and as the campaign progressed, until October 6th (the day before the election) the number of  followers was 238, and was released 1.003 tweet.

Political party “Stranka demokratske akcije BiH“ (SDA) regularly acquainted on the facebook with their supporters, members and voters.

Hundreds of thousands messages of support for this political party came from all over the country. Clearly, the SDA had widespread support. "From Una, where our call for the force of B&H headed, to Drina and every corner of our country, true fighters for the state and society recognized themselves" is quoted among other things, in this text, according to information on the profile of the party.

Rating analysis of political parties, conducted by Ipsos from 12 to 30 September in public opinion polls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is shared by SDA on this social network. Facebook profile of SDA has nearly 10 thousand "Like" supporters. 

Klix.ba portal has made an interview with the candidates of political party „Nasa stranka“ (Our party), and the party passed the interview on it's twitter account.

The candidates of “Nasa stranka” for the head of four Sarajevo municipalities, Ariana Aganovic (Stari Grad), Lejla Somun Krupalija (Centar), Sabina Cudic (Novo Sarajevo) and Ajla Sisic (Novi Grad) decided to give the opportunity to citizens through their social networks, to raise questions concerning their programs and local problems, for which they gave the public answers. 

In August 16th political party “Nasa stranka“ had 174 followers on their twitter account (140 tweets posted) only to October 6th, that number rose slightly to 221 (174 tweets).

Political party “Savez za bolju buducnost BiH“ (SBB) periodically advertised through their twitter page. Three days before the official vote, or October 4, they reminded their supporters and voters to a page of party president Fahrudin Radoncic which, in turn, is associated with more attended and updated facebook profile.

We have singled out the latest news of held rallies, including the central one, held in Sarajevo’s Zetra where, we hand over a part of the text, about 15.000 people asked for changes.

SBB has, as things stand, only owned a profile on twitter, since on August 16th there were nine followers and 17 tweets, only to October 6th, when they had 21 followers and had posted 639 tweets.

We noticed that the political party “Radom za Boljitak” was devotedly updating their twitter profile, apropos, on October 4 (two days before voting day), they published eight tweets, where we find, among other things, the news that Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic, vice-president of “Narodna stranka Radom za boljitak“, in Posavina visited several households in order to perceive the situation on site about domestic food production.

Of course, we also have news from pre-election rallies of blue revolution’s “Boljitak bus” from Tuzla. Vice-president of political party “Radom za Boljitak” of the Bosnian people and the Tuzla Cantonal Board president, Mersed Serifovic, said that the strength of Blue Revolution in all the municipalities of Tuzla Canton feels increasingly, and that citizens of Tuzla realize and understand that “Boljitkovians” are relentless in defense of the citizens interests, etc.

In August 16th political party “Radom za Boljitak” records 334 twitter followers, 752 tweets; on September 6th the number of followers counts 338, 764 tweets, and eventually, as the pre-election campaign move there was a slight increase of followers (344), and 806 tweets.

We notice that certain parties had a fuller profile on Facebook, where they regularly published a variety of information, and used the YouTube channel to present video clips of their activities, and thus they attracted supporters and potential voters.